Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Joe Johnson: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Joe Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to determine who has the better numbers. Here you can compare their career totals, points per game, games of 40+ points, 50+, etc. and their year-by-year scoring averages side by side, both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Joe Johnson are among the all-time leaders in points in NBA history—combining for a total of 58,794 points—. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is also one of the all-time leaders in points per game. Here we compare their scoring stats.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has better scoring stats than Joe Johnson in averages and totals, both in the regular season and Playoffs. However, we won't stop there and we'll go into detail to analyze what these statistics are made up of, from how many games they had in each threshold (30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc.) to their season-by-season scoring averages.

On this page we compare:

Who has better scoring stats? Career Numbers
Games of 30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc
Shooting Stats
Points Year by Year

Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?

Points in the Regular Season

In his 20 NBA regular seasons played, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averages 8.6 points more than Joe Johnson in his 18 seasons (24.6 points against 16.0), and he also scored a total of 17,980 points more (38,387 vs. 20,407).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6
+8.6
20
Joe Johnson 16.0
18

Total Points

Seasons
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
+17,980
20
Joe Johnson 20,407
18

Scoring Titles

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2
Scoring leaderScoring leader
+2
Joe Johnson 0

Points in the Playoffs

Similar to what happens in the regular season, in the NBA postseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a better career point average than Joe Johnson (+9.1 points per game) and he also scored more points (+3,934).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3
+9.1
18
Joe Johnson 15.2
13

Total Points

Playoffs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762
+3,934
18
Joe Johnson 1,828
13

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

50+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10
+10
Joe Johnson 0

40+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 70
+64
Joe Johnson 6

30+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 429
+338
Joe Johnson 91

20+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,122
+708
Joe Johnson 414

10+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,509
+542
Joe Johnson 967

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,559
+304
Joe Johnson 1,255

0 Point Games (games without points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1
Joe Johnson 22
+21

Playoffs

40+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 9
+9
Joe Johnson 0

30+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 75
+71
Joe Johnson 4

20+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 169
+137
Joe Johnson 32

10+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 223
+130
Joe Johnson 93

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 237
+121
Joe Johnson 116

0 Point Games (games without points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0
Joe Johnson 4
+4

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

more >>

Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6 10.2 18.1 55.9 * 0.0 * 0.0 * 5.6 4.3 6.0 72.1 20 1,560
difference:+8.6+4.1+4.2+11.8+1.5+4.2+31.5+2.1+3.3+8.1+2+283
Joe Johnson 16.0 6.1 13.9 44.1 1.5 4.2 37.1 2.2 2.7 80.2 18 1,277

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387 15,837 28,307 55.9 * 1 * 18 * 5.6 6,712 9,304 72.1 20 1,560
difference:+17,980+8,014+10,587+11.8+1,977+5,313+31.5+3,929+5,836+8.1+2+283
Joe Johnson 20,407 7,823 17,720 44.1 1,978 5,331 37.1 2,783 3,468 80.2 18 1,277

Notes: Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80.
* = some years in his career didn't have the stat.

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3 9.9 18.7 53.3 * 0.0 * 0.0 * 0.0 4.4 6.0 74.0 18 237
difference:+9.1+4.0+5.0+10.6+1.3+3.9+33.9+2.2+3.2+3.9+5+117
Joe Johnson 15.2 5.9 13.7 42.7 1.3 3.9 33.9 2.2 2.8 77.9 13 120

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762 2,356 4,422 53.3 * 0 * 4 * 0.0 1,050 1,419 74.0 18 237
difference:+3,934+1,653+2,775+10.6+158+462+33.9+786+1,080+3.9+5+117
Joe Johnson 1,828 703 1,647 42.7 158 466 33.9 264 339 77.9 13 120

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

Scoring leader= NBA Scoring Leader
NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.8
+21.3
197082
Joe Johnson 7.5
200277

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Scoring leader31.7
+21.9
1971NBA Champion82
Joe Johnson 9.8
200382

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Scoring leader34.8
+18.1
197281
Joe Johnson 16.7
200482

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30.2
+13.1
197376
Joe Johnson 17.1
200582

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.0
+6.8
197481
Joe Johnson 20.2
200682

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30.0
+5.0
197565
Joe Johnson 25.0
200757

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.7
+6.0
197682
Joe Johnson 21.7
200882

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.2
+4.8
197782
Joe Johnson 21.4
200979

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 25.8
+4.5
197862
Joe Johnson 21.3
201076

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.8
+5.6
197980
Joe Johnson 18.2
201172

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.8
+6.0
1980NBA Champion82
Joe Johnson 18.8
201260

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.2
+9.9
198180
Joe Johnson 16.3
201372

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.9
+8.1
1982NBA Champion76
Joe Johnson 15.8
201479

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.8
+7.4
198379
Joe Johnson 14.4
201580

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.5
+9.3
198480
Joe Johnson 12.2
201681

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 22.0
+12.8
1985NBA Champion79
Joe Johnson 9.2
201778

Season 17

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.4
+16.6
198679
Joe Johnson 6.8
201855

Season 18

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17.5
+10.7
1987NBA Champion78
Joe Johnson 6.8
201855

Season 19

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14.6
+7.8
1988NBA Champion80
Joe Johnson 6.8
201855

Season 20

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10.1
+8.1
198974
Joe Johnson 2.0
20221

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 35.2
+35.2
197010
Joe Johnson -
DNP
20020

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.6
+21.3
1971NBA Champion14
Joe Johnson 5.3
20036

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.7
+28.7
197211
Joe Johnson -
DNP
20040

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 22.8
+4.0
19736
Joe Johnson 18.8
20059

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 32.2
+32.2
197416
Joe Johnson -
DNP
20060

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -
DNP
19750
Joe Johnson -
DNP
20070

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -
DNP
19760
Joe Johnson 20.0
+20.0
20087

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 34.6
+18.2
197711
Joe Johnson 16.4
200911

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.0
+9.1
19783
Joe Johnson 17.9
201011

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.5
+9.7
19798
Joe Johnson 18.8
201112

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 31.9
+14.7
1980NBA Champion15
Joe Johnson 17.2
20126

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.7
+11.8
19813
Joe Johnson 14.9
20137

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20.4
1982NBA Champion14
Joe Johnson 21.2
+0.8
201412

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.1
+10.6
198315
Joe Johnson 16.5
20156

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.9
+11.8
198421
Joe Johnson 12.1
201614

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.9
+9.0
1985NBA Champion19
Joe Johnson 12.9
201711

Season 17

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 25.9
+24.4
198614
Joe Johnson 1.5
20188

Season 18

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 19.2
+17.7
1987NBA Champion18
Joe Johnson 1.5
20188

Season 19

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14.1
+12.6
1988NBA Champion24
Joe Johnson 1.5
20188

Season 20

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11.1
+11.1
198915
Joe Johnson -
DNP
20220
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